Imperfect Bifurcation Near a Double Eigenvalue: Transitions Between Nonsymmetric and Symmetric Patterns

Abstract

We examine the existence of nonsymmetric and symmetric steady state solutions of a general class of reaction-diffusion equations. Our study consists of two parts: (i) By analyzing the bifurcation from a uniform reference state to nonuniform regimes, we demonstrate the existence of a unique symmetric solution (basic wave number two) which becomes linearly stable when it surpasses a critical amplitude. (We assume that the first bifurcation point corresponds to the emergence of the simplest nonsymmetric steady state solutions.) (ii) This result is not affected when a parameter is nonuniformly distributed in the system. However, one of the two possible branches of nonsymmetric solutions may disappear from the bifurcation diagram. Our analysis is motivated by the fact that experimental observations of pattern transitions during morphogenesis are interpreted in terms of the dynamics of stable concentration gradients. We have shown that in addition to the values of the physico-chemical parameters, these structures can be selected by two different mechanisms: (i) the linear stability of the nonuniform patterns, (ii) the effects of a small and nonuniform variation of a parameter in the spatial domain.